Puffing gun



Jan. 24, 1967 Filed Feb. 11, 1965 W. HEILAND PUFFING GUN 4 Sheets-Sheet .1.

INVENTOR.

WOLFGANG K. HEILAND BY Jan. 24, 1967 w. HEILAND 3,299,799

PUFFING GUN Filed Feb. 11, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 13 FigZ /SG 1 56 50 e/ H M f ,;/55 E 54 aa l! 53 52 INVENTOR.

WOLFGANG K. HEILAND Jan. 24, 1967 w. HEILAND PUFFING GUN 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 11, 1955 Fig 3 INVENTOR A TTORNE Y United States Patent 3,299,799 PUFFING GUN Wolfgang Heiland, Trevose, Pa., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture Filed Feb. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 432,024 3 Claims. (Cl. 99238) A non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license in the invention herein described, throughout the world for all purposes of the United States Government, with the power to grant sublicenses for such purposes, is hereby granted to the Government of the United States of America.

This invention relates to modifications in apparatus for the explosive pulling of comestibles. More particularly this invention relates to improvements in the lid of the gun and mechanisms pertaining to functioning of the lid.

The puffing gun has long been applied in the preparation of products such as ready-toeat cereals. In such a pufllng process a material is placed in a hollow pressure chamber, the chamber is sealed, heat and pressure are applied, either by external application of heat by means of gas burners or steam or by injection of steam into the chamber, and then the chamber is rapidly opened to the atmosphere.

Explosive puffing, as in the putting of cereals, and the combination of explosive puffing with drying in the preparation of rapidly rehydratable dried fruits and vegetables, improves greatly with a small decrease in opening time of the lid of the puffing gun. At a given pressure inside the gun, opening time of the lid decreases as its mass decreases. Conventionally, the lid of a pufling gun is equipped with a floating pivot and the sealing pressure is provided by a strong-back with a number of jack-screws. The lid and strong-back use a common hinge-pin. Typically the lid securing means, located opposite the hinge point, is an eccentric pin which can be rotated for locking or unlocking. This type of lock is essentially a friction lock, applying to the strong-back pressure necessary for sealing the closed lid.

An object of the present invention is to provide a lid which can be opened more rapidly than previous models. Another object is to provide a lid with a more positive sealing arrangement. A further object is to provide an easier and more accurate means of aligning the lid in the opening. Still another object is to provide a means for decreasing impact loads on vital gun parts. Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the following description and claims taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a pufl'lng gun embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the same apparatus as FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a View, mostly in cross-section along line 3--3 of FIG. 2, illustrating the hinge assembly;

FIG. 3a is an exploded view, partly in cross-section as in FIG. 3, of the hinge assembly;

FIG. 4 is a view, mostly in cross-section along line 4-4 of FIG. 2, showing the lid of the pufling gun secured in closed position;

FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates urging the toggle lock assembly into locked position;

FIG. 6 diagrammatically illustrates urging the toggle lock assembly away from locked position; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-section on line 7-7 of FIG. 2, illustrating the lid arrester.

While the improvements of the present invention were applied to the puffing gun illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be apparent that the novel features are generally adaptable to puffing guns; that the pressure chamber or 3,299,799 Patented Jan. 24, 1967 gun barrel, an elongated hollow member, may be straight or taper to an opening narrower in diameter than the main body of the barrel, may be heated externally or internally, and that means of rotating the barrel, mounting the barrel assembly on a support, tilting the gun, and other aspects may be varied without detracting from the operating benefits obtained with application of the features of the present invention.

As shown in the drawings, especially FIG. 4, the lid 10 is made in one piece, and, having no strong-back or locking attachments mounted thereon, is lighter than prior art lids of the same diameter. The lid is therefore subject to more rapid opening at a central internal pressure than was possible heretofore. The lid 10 is pivotally secured to the gun barrel or pressure chamber 11 by means of a hinge support 12, part of the hinge assembly of FIG. 3, which is attached to the flange 13 and ring 14.

The lid is held in closed position by toggle bolt 15, part of the toggle lock assembly operated by a lock actuating means comprising rod 16 (cf. FIG. 1), activated by a reciprocating plunger 17 through linkage 18.

In typical firing position the pulling gun is tilted so that the front is inclined downward at an angle of 20 degrees or more, and the inertia of the opening lid is absorbed by lid arrester unit 19.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the pressure chamber 11 terminates in an annular flange 13 at the mouth of the pulling gun. The flange is welded or otherwise rigidly sealed to the pressure chamber, and is adapted to receive a ring seal 20 on the face or surface against which the lid is closed. The lid is designed to have a slightly elevated rim or lip portion 21 of the same diameter as the ring seal so that a substantially air tight juncture is provided when the rim is pressed against the ring seal. The lid 10 is hinged at one side by a pair of parallel arms 22 as depicted in FIG. 2, the hinge-arms 22 forming part of the hinge assembly which attaches the lid to the gun barrel 11 through the hinge support 12. The hinge assembly contains two eccentrics which function to center the rim 21 over the ring-seal 20 and to seat the rim uniformly on the ring seal by moving the lid closer to or farther away from the flange. Referring to FIG. 3 the hinge pin 23 has axially aligned ends on which the lid pivots through bearings 24, but the cylindrical portion 25, intermediate the aligned ends has an axis eccentric from the axis of the ends. The other eccentric is the bushing 26 which is rotatable on the cylindrical portion of the hinge-pin. The bushing engages and is rotatable within a hole in the hinge-support 12. One end of the bushing enlarges to a head section adapted to receive a wrench and the opposite end is threaded to receive a bushing nut 27 for reversibly securing the bushing in a fixed position in the hinge-support. The bushing and hinge-pin are reversibly secured to each other by a different means. The hinge-pin is provided with a hollow core extending axially through one end to receive locking-pin 28. An opening from the hollow core radially through the wall of the cylindrical portion is adapted to receive a ball 29 having a diameter greater than the depth of the cylinder wall. A sloping recess is provided in the locking-pin to receive a portion of the ball. The recess can be made to taper in either direction, but it is convenient to have it taper towards the circumference of the locking-pin in the direction away from the opening so that pulling on the locking-pin 28, as by tightening a nut 30, tends to press the ball 29 through the opening in the hinge-pin and against the inside of the bushing 26, the ball thus having the effect of a locking key to reversibly secure the bushing and bingepin.

:In mounting the lid on the gun barrel the bushing 26 is inserted in the opening of the hinge-support 12 and the 3 bushing nut 27 is put on, but not tightened. The hingearms 22 with bearings 24 removed are aligned with the opening in the bushing and the hinge-pin 23 is inserted. The bearings 24 are pressed into the arms and secured, as with set screws 31. The lid is swung to closed position, and adjusted for a tight seal by turning the eccentric members. The hinge-pin 23 was constructed to have the solid end 32 adapted to receive a wrench, although other means of rotating the hinge-pin may be provided. When the lid is properly positioned, the bushing nut 27 and locking-pin nut .30 are tightened to secure the bushing and the hinge-pin. Movement of the hinge assembly during operation is thus limited to the arms 22 turning by means of bearings 24 on the stationary hinge-pin 23. While shim washers 33 were not necessary in the working model, it permits adjusting position of the lid in a third direction.

The toggle lock assembly is located opposite the hinge assembly and comprises the toggle bolt pivotally mounted in bracket 34. The bracket is hinged by a pin 35 through toggle support 36 which is secured to flange 13 and ring 14.

In all the figures the toggle lock assembly is shown in position for securing lid 10 in closed position. While various means of moving the bracket 34 to lock and unlock the lid may be provided, in the working model the force required to operate the toggle is provided by air pressure on a double acting piston 17 which through linkage 18 activates rod 16 which acts against roller 37 in bracket.

In describing a cycle of operation, assume that the lid is open and that all of the lock actuating means is in retracted position (not shown). Bracket 34 is supported manually while lid 10 is brought to approximately closed position, the hemispherical nose of toggle bolt 15 is directed to a matching recessed cup (detent) 38 in the lid, and the bracket released, being supported by pin 35 and toggle bolt 15. Rod 16 is placed in extended position by lifting rod handle 39, moving it forward in slot 40 in red housing 41, and releasing the handle. Rod 16 now extends above roller 37. Compressed air is admitted at rear valve 42 to activate piston 17 and drive piston rod 43 forward. Rod housing 4-1, supported on yoke 44, pivots on y-oke pins 45 and rod 16 applies pressure on roller 37 causing toggle bolt 15 in bracket 34 to pivot on toggle bolt pin 46 past center and against a stop 47 (cf. FIG. 4), arriving at the position depicted in FIG. 5.

Direction of the piston is reversed by exhausting the cylinder through valve 42 while compressed air is admitted through valve 48, the rod housing 41 and yoke 44 pivot on pins 45, rod .16 is manually retracted by means of handle 39, and the lock actuating means is out of the way while the barrel (pressure chamber is rotated and heated. The forward end of the barrel is supported and centered by means of ring 14 acting on rollers 66.

To open the lid the rotating barrel is stopped at substantially the starting position. Compressed air is admitted through valve 42, the piston forward causing rod housing 41 to tilt forward, and when rod 16 is moved from retracted to extended position by means of handle 39 the rod extends below roller 37 in bracket 34. The situation depicted in FIG. 6 is obtained. The direction of air pressure on the piston is again reversed, piston rod 43 is pulled into the cylinder, the rod housing and supporting yoke are cause-d to pivot on pins 45 and rod 16, exerting pressure on roller 37, causes bracket 34 to pivot on pin 35, the toggle bolt 15 pivots on pin 46, becomes disengaged, and the lid opens.

As shown in FIG. 4 means of adjusting the lid in closed position against the ring seal is provided by turning lock nut 49 on the threaded toggle lock bolt. In the closed position any increase in pressure on the inside of the lid will act to maintain the toggle bolt and bracket in closed position.

If desired, other limiting means than solid pin 47 can be provided for limiting movement of e ther the bracket or the toggle bolt or both.

It will be obvious that more efliort on the bracket is required to open the lid than to close it. In opening, once the toggle bolt is moved past center the bracket is out of the way, the force component of the lid causes a speed-up of pivoting of the toggle bolt, and the lid opens explosively.

Firing is done with the axis of the gun pointing 22 /2 downward. The lid arrester unit 19 is positioned on framework St in a position to oppose the opening lid. The lid is designed with a generally rectangular, flat raised portion 51 (cf. FIGS. 4 and 1) for contacting the arrester so that the lid strikes the lid arrester unit squarely. The lid arrester is designed to absorb the energy of the lid smoothly without causing it to bounce back into the path of the product discharge. To accomplish this the arrester includes a resilient bumper 52 made from rubber or similar flexible, compressible material and protected from the hot lid by a flexible, heat-resistant liner 53. Movement of the bumper is dampened by means of saddle 54, a supporting and retaining member, operating against springs on guide posts 55 and shock absorbers 56. The ends of the saddle are constructed so as to turn in and overlap a portion of the front of the bumper, tending to oppose movement of the front of the bumper in either inward or outward direction from framework Stl. The bumper curves over the saddle and the ends are wedged in and clamped to the framework 50 so that the side view is somewhat horseshoe-shaped.

The gun tilts on trunnions 57 affixed to frame channel irons '58 at approximately the balance point of the puffing ,gun assembly. The trunnions are pivotally mounted in bearings 59 secured to the stationary support. 'Various means of stabilizing the gun barrel in loading, processing and tiring position are known in the art. In the present apparatus a disk :60 having an are centered on the axis of the trunnion was notched as shown in FIG. '1. The location of the notches was determined by the position of the key 61 adapted to engage the notches and by the operating positions desired for the gun barrel. in changing the operating position of the gun, key 61 is disengaged by depressing a foot lever 62, the gun barrel tilted by means of handle 63, and lever 62 released allowing the key, actuated by a spring mechanism .64, to enter another notch in disc 60.

The hollow pressure chamber may, for purpose of increasing heat transfer area, be ribbed. The working model had six radial ribs integral with the wall of the pressure chamber.

While the foregoing is presented to disclose a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the invention is susceptible to modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific forms disclosed.

I claim:

1. A pulling gun for the explosive pufling of comestibles comprising (a) a stationary support member;

(b) an elongated hollow member, forming a gun barrel for heating a comestible to be puffed, rotatably mounted on said support member, said gun barrel having a circular opening at one end thereof;

(c) an annular flange secured to the gun barrel having a face disposed in the plane of said opening, said face being provided with a groove and a ring-seal in said groove;

(d) closure means adapted to cover said opening and engage the ring-seal;

(e) a hinge assembly secured to the gun barrel and provided with a hinge pin adapted for both rotatory and lateral movement in said hinge, said hinge assembly comprising a pair ofhinge-arms substantially parallel with each other and integral with the lid extending laterally for pivotally mounting said lid, a hinge-pin, a bushing, a locking pin, a ball serving as a locking key to reversibly secure the hinge-pin and bushing, and a hinge support, said hinge-pin hav- 5 ing axially aligned ends, an eccentrically located cylindrical portion intermediate said aligned ends, an axially centered hollow core adapted to receive said locking pin through an opening in one of said aligned ends, and an opening in said cylindrical portion to said hollow core adapted to receive said ball, the ball having a diameter greater than the depth of the opening in the cylindrical portion, a sloping recess in said locking pin adapted to receive a portion of said ball, an eccentrically located bore in said bushing adapted to rotatably receive said ibushing, means for securing said bushing in said hinge support, bearings adapted to mount said aligned ends in said hinge-arms, means for securing said bearings, means for rotating said hinge-pin, means for rotating said bushing, and means for activating said locking pin,

(f) rigid means connecting the closure means with the hinge pin;

(g) a toggle locking assembly mounted on the gun barrel having pressure-applying means adapted to engage the closure means at a point opposite the point of connection of the rigid connecting means to the closure means, whereby pressure applied to the closure is transmitted through the rigid connecting 30 means of the hinge pin causing said pin to move laterally in said hinge and causing said closure to engage the ring-seal with uniform pressure around its entire circumference;

(h) a lock actuating means adapted to reversibly engage the toggle locking assembly, and

(i) resilient bumper means mounted on the stationary support member positioned to absorb and stop the movement of the closure means after release of the locking means.

2. The :pufling gun of claim 1 wherein the toggle looking means comprises a support means, a 'bracket adapted to reversibly pivot on said support means, a toggle :bolt pin mounted in said bracket, a toggle bolt adapted for pivotal movement on said toggle bolt pin, means for reversible adjustment of length of said toggle bolt, a stop means in said bracket adapted to limit movement of said toggle bolt on said pin, and means for pivotally moving said bracket on said support means.

3. The pufiing gun of claim 1 wherein the resilient bumper means comprises a supporting and retaining memher, a layer of resilient material adapted to engage said supporting and retaining member, and a flexible, heatresistant liner adapted to overlay said resilient material, said supporting and retaining means being adapted to move against resisting forces in either direction along one plane.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,395,014 10/1921 Rowell 99238 2,086,266 7/1937 Heue et al. 99-238 2,116,212 5/1938 Plews 99238 2,598,242 5/1952 Ernest 99-Z38 2,837,367 6/1958 McMahon 220-] WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

R. W. JENKINS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PUFFING GUN FOR THE EXPLOSIVE PUFFING OF COMESTIBLES COMPRISING (A) A STATIONARY SUPPORT MEMBER; (B) AN ELONGATED HOLLOW MEMBER, FORMING A GUN BARREL FOR HEATING A COMESTIBLE TO BE PUFFED, ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID GUN BARREL HAVING A CIRCULAR OPENING AT ONE END THEREOF; (C) AN ANNULAR FLANGE SECURED TO THE GUN BARREL HAVING A FACE DISPOSED IN THE PLANE OF SAID OPENING, SAID FACE BEING PROVIDED WITH A GROOVE AND A RING-SEAL IN SAID GROOVE; (D) CLOSURE MEANS ADAPTED TO COVER SAID OPENING AND ENGAGE THE RING-SEAL; (E) A HINGE ASSEMBLY SECURED TO THE GUN BARREL AND PROVIDED WITH A HINGE PIN ADAPTED FOR BOTH ROTATARY AND LATERAL MOVEMENT IN SAID HINGE, SAID HINGE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A PAIR OF HINGE-ARMS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH EACH OTHER AND INTEGRAL WITH THE LID EXTENDING LATERALLY FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID LID, A HINGE-PIN, A BUSHING, A LOCKING PIN, A BALL SERVING AS A LOCKING KEY TO REVERSIBLY SECURE THE HINGE-PIN AND BUSHING, AND A HINGE SUPPORT, SAID HINGE-PIN HAVING AXIALLY ALIGNED ENDS, AN ECCENTRICALLY LOCATED CYLINDRICAL PORTION INTERMEDIATE SAID ALIGNED ENDS, AN AXIALLY CENTERED HOLLOW CORE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID LOCKING PIN THROUGH AN OPENING IN ONE OF SAID ALIGNED ENDS, AND AN OPENING IN SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION TO SAID HOLLOW CORE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID BALL, THE BALL HAVING A DIAMETER GREATER THAN THE DEPTH OF THE OPEN- 